High school baseball playoff preview

Updated 8:36 pm, Wednesday, May 1, 2013

The Woodlands' Chris Andritsos is a handful on the mound or at the plate.

The Woodlands' Chris Andritsos is a handful on the mound or at the plate.

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

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5/7/2011: Tori Vidales #11 of La Porte fields the ball in the fourth inning against Brazoswood in the second round of the Class 5A softball playoffs at Brazoswood. Brazoswood won 11 to 3. Thomas B. Shea : For the Chronicle.

5/7/2011: Tori Vidales #11 of La Porte fields the ball in the fourth inning against Brazoswood in the second round of the Class 5A softball playoffs at Brazoswood. Brazoswood won 11 to 3. Thomas B. Shea :

Corbin Martin, right, is back after homering to help Cypress Ranch win the Class 5A title in 2012.

Corbin Martin, right, is back after homering to help Cypress Ranch win the Class 5A title in 2012.

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

High school baseball playoff preview

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Key questions

1. Can Cypress Ranch repeat? The Mustangs won the Class 5A championship in their first playoff appearance last year. They were more dominant in the regular season this year, winning their first district championship and entering the playoffs on a 15-game winning streak. Grant Slaughter, the Chronicle's Pitcher of the Year last season, is gone. But they still have plenty of pitching, with Zach Brosh, who earned the win in the state final, Corbin Martin, last year's 5A final MVP, and Spencer Sloane on the mound - not to mention the know-how to get it done. The odds are against it, but yes, the Mustangs can repeat.

2. Who are the area favorites? The Woodlands is the biggest. The two-time state champion is the No. 1-ranked Class 5A team in the state. The Highlanders started the year 21-0 and have lost only once to a team from Texas. Barbers Hill is the state's top 4A team with a coach in David Denny who won a state title at Kingwood. Pearland, Deer Park, Cy Ranch and Klein Collins also are state ranked in 5A, giving the Houston area half of the top-10 teams in the class. Montgomery is the No. 10 team in 4A, Sweeny is the top-ranked 3A team, and Hallettsville and East Bernard are state-ranked in 2A.

3. Who else could emerge? Dulles repeated as the champion of District 23-5A, which always is tough to win, and has two solid starters in Dakota Mills and Nick Hernandez. Bellaire tied for the 20-5A championship, then ended up with the No. 2 seed on a weather-induced coin flip. With Rocky Manuel at the helm, the Cardinals are dangerous. Huffman Hargrave, one of the highest-scoring teams in the area a couple of years ago, has been off the radar but rolled through 22-3A with a new pitching-oriented game.

Best first-round matchups

Klein vs. A&M Consolidated

Game 1: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, A&M Consolidated. The Bearkats haven't lost much this season, but the Tigers, who played in the 5A championship game last year, will be a tough out.

Lamar vs. Seven Lakes

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Langham Creek. The Spartans, rebuilding after last year's district championship, have been inconsistent but may be healthy at the right time.

Summer Creek vs. Port Neches-Groves

6:30 p.m. Friday, Baytown Sterling. The Bulldogs are primed for their first playoff win, but the small-ball Indians are tough when their pitching's on.

Players to watch

Dominic TaccoliniKempner

The 6-3, 240-pound Arkansas signee led the Cougars to the regional finals last year. The pitcher/slugger is the reason they're still dangerous despite placing third in district.

Chris AndritsosWoodlands

The 6-3, 220-pound sophomore leads the Houston area with 12 home runs to go with a .404 batting average. He's also 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 342⁄3 innings on the mound.

Josh Pettitte Deer Park

The 6-1, 190-pound Baylor signee one-upped his dad, Andy Pettitte, with his first no-hitter this season. The righthander is 8-0 in 64 innings, with 90 strikeouts and a 0.76 ERA.